US3786344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage and current regulator with automatic switchover
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A system for energizing an inductive load includes a voltage regulator for providing a constant voltage across the load until the current builds up to a particular value, and a current regulator which then takes over to provide a constant holding current at a lower value. The voltage regulator may include a closed loop for holding the voltage across the inductive load constant or may respond to a regulated voltage value to control a power stage for providing a constant voltage. The voltage across a sensing resistor in the power stage controls the crossover from the voltage regulation mode, to the current regulation mode and the current regulator automatically resets the reference to control the power stage to provide a constant current of a lower value through the load. The system can be used to supply current to coils of injector valves in a fuel injection system, and may include two power stages for supplying current to two banks of coils. The regulator system is switched from one power stage to the other during successive 180* rotary positions of the engine for both stages.
Inventors
- 👤 W Davis
- 👤 R Russell
- 👤 T Frederiksen
- 👤 E Long
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:54
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/20; H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/06; H01F7/08; H01F7/18; H01F7/1805; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/60; H03K17/64; F02D2041/2017; F02D2041/202; F02D2041/2031; F02D2041/2058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A circuit for supplying current from a power supply to an inductive load, including in combination: power stage means coupled to the power supply and having an input terminal and an output terminal adapted to be connected to the inductive load to supply current thereto, said power stage means having output current sensing means; voltage regulator means coupled to said input terminal for controlling said power stage means to maintain a substantially constant voltage at said output terminal thereof; and current regulator means including a current regulator circuit having an input and an output, means coupling said input of said current regulator circuit to said output current sensing means, and circuit means coupling said output of said current regulator circuit to said input terminal for controlling the current supplied by said power stage to the inductive load, said current regulator circuit being rendered operative to control the output current in response to a voltage across said output current sensing means which indicates that the current in the load has reached a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A circuit for supplying current from a power supply to an inductive load, including in combination: power stage means coupled to the power supply and having an input terminal and an output terminal adapted to be connected to the inductive load to supply current thereto, said power stage means having output current sensing means; voltage regulator means coupled to said input terminal for controlling said power stage means to maintain a substantially constant voltage at said output terminal thereof; and current regulator means including a current regulator circuit having an input and an output, means coupling said input of said current regulator circuit to said output current sensing means, and circuit means coupling said output of said current regulator circuit to said input terminal for controlling the current supplied by said power stage to the inductive load, said current regulator circuit being rendered operative to control the output current in response to a voltage across said output current sensing means which indicates that the current in the load has reached a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said voltage regulator means includes a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to said output terminal of said power stage means, a second input, and an output, reference voltage means providing a substantially fixed voltage connected to said second input of said differential amplifier, and control means coupling said output of said differential amplifier to said input terminal of said power staGe means to control the operation of said power stage means so that the voltage at said output terminal remains substantially constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said differential amplifier and said control means cooperate to control said power stage means so that the voltage at said output terminal thereof is substantially the same as the reference voltage applied to said second terminal of said differential amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said control means includes an emitter-follower circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said voltage regulator means includes control means connected to said input terminal of said power stage means for applying current thereto for controlling the voltage at said output terminal thereof, and said circuit means of said current regulator means is coupled to said input terminal for controlling the current applied by said control means to said input terminal of said power stage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said current regulator circuit includes, a differential amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, said first input of said differential amplifier forming said input of said current regulator circuit and said output of said differential amplifier forming said output of said current regulator circuit, reference voltage means connected to said second input of said differential amplifier; and means coupling said circuit means to said reference voltage means for changing the reference voltage applied to said second input of said differential amplifier in response to a signal in said circuit means produced in response to the voltage across said output current sensing means, to control said power stage to reduce said output current to a value less than said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit of claim 6 wherein said reference voltage means includes means having first and second branches with substantially fixed current therein, and means for providing a reference voltage which is related to the value of the currents in said first and second branches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reference voltage means includes means for shunting said first branch so that the reference voltage is related to the value of the current in said branch alone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 6 wherein said reference voltage means includes means responsive to decrease in the voltage of the power supply means to modify the voltage applied to said second input of said differential amplifier to modify the action thereof to cause said power stage to apply increased current to the load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
A circuit for supply current from a power supply to first and second banks of coils of injector valves, including in combination: power stage means including first and second sections coupled to the power supply and each having an input terminal and an output terminal adapted to be connected to one bank of coils to supply current thereto, said power stage means having output current sensing means common to said first and second sections; voltage regulator means adapted to provide a substantially constant voltage; current regulator means having an input and an output, means coupling said input of said current regulator means to said output current sensing means; and circuit means including first and second sections each coupled to said input terminal of one of said sections of said power stage means, said circuit means being coupled to said voltage regulator means and responsive to the voltage provided thereby to provide a substantially constant voltage at said output terminals of said sections of said power stage means, said circuit means being coupled to said output of said current regulator means and controlling said sections of said power stage means so that the current supplied thereby to the bank of coils connected thereto is maintained substantially constant; said current regUlator means being rendered operative to control said sections of said power stage means in response to a voltage across said output current sensing means which indicates that the current in the coils has reached a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
246 words
A circuit for supply current from a power supply to first and second banks of coils of injector valves, including in combination: power stage means including first and second sections coupled to the power supply and each having an input terminal and an output terminal adapted to be connected to one bank of coils to supply current thereto, said power stage means having output current sensing means common to said first and second sections; voltage regulator means adapted to provide a substantially constant voltage; current regulator means having an input and an output, means coupling said input of said current regulator means to said output current sensing means; and circuit means including first and second sections each coupled to said input terminal of one of said sections of said power stage means, said circuit means being coupled to said voltage regulator means and responsive to the voltage provided thereby to provide a substantially constant voltage at said output terminals of said sections of said power stage means, said circuit means being coupled to said output of said current regulator means and controlling said sections of said power stage means so that the current supplied thereby to the bank of coils connected thereto is maintained substantially constant; said current regUlator means being rendered operative to control said sections of said power stage means in response to a voltage across said output current sensing means which indicates that the current in the coils has reached a predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 10 further including switch means coupled to said circuit means for selectively rendering said first and second sections thereof operative to control said sections of said power stage means coupled thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 11 wherein said switch means includes means for actuating the operative sections of said circuit means to control the section of said power stage means connected thereto to initiate the supply of current to the associated bank of coils and to terminate such current supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein said current regulator means includes, a differential amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, with said first input of said differential amplifier forming said input of said current regulator means and said output of said differential amplifier forming said output of said current regulator means, reference voltage means connected to said second input of said differential amplifier, said differential amplifier being rendered operative when the voltage applied to said first input thereof from said output current sensing means has a value equal to the voltage applied to said second input of said differential amplifier to control said circuit means and cause said sections of said power stage means to supply substantially constant current to the associated bank of coils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said reference voltage means is coupled to said output of said differential amplifier and includes means for changing the voltage applied to said second input of said differential amplifier so that said current regulator means controls said power stage means so that the current supplied to the coils is maintained at a substantially constant value below said predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
210 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said sections of said circuit means includes first, second and third transistors, with said first transistor having base, emitter and first and second collector electrodes, and said second and third transistors each having base, emitter and collector electrodes, means connecting the path between said emitter and said first collector of said first transistor in series with the path between said emitter and said collector of said second transistor across the power supply, and connecting the junction between said first collector and said emitter of said second transistor to said input of the section of said power stage means connected to such section of said circuit means, resistor means connected in series with the path between said emitter and said collector of said third transistor across the power supply, the junction between said resistor and said emitter of said third transistor being connected to said base of said first transistor, and means connecting said second collector of said first transistor to said base of said third transistor and for controlling the current therein so that the conductivity of said first transistor is controlled to thereby control the current applied to said input of said connected section of said power stage means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |